More than 65 people attended the launch of Driving in Palestine, a new multimedia exhibition that documents life in the occupied West Bank by blending photography, video, printed matter, and sound at the Campbell River Art Gallery on March 21.
The new exhibition by Palestinian-born and Montreal-based artist Rehab Nazzal began with a traditional welcoming by hereditary chief Kwakiladze James Quattell.
Artist Sonny Assu also spoke at the opening reception: 鈥淭his work is just extremely raw, and it鈥檚 really showing you what is happening on the ground in Palestine.
鈥淔or me, I just want to be in here and absorb everything, just so I kinda know what the Palestinians are going through and I encourage you all to do this as well," said Assu, while she toured the exhibit.
Driving in Palestine features work by Nazzal who took on the risky feat of crossing the occupied West Bank from 2010 to 2020. Nazzal used a documentary approach to capture unseen aspects of Palestine, including its visual and sound landscapes under military occupation.
Amassing thousands of photos, videos, and audio clips, her work creates a vital historical archive, notes a March 26 media release from the Campbell River Art Gallery. One of the pieces in the exhibition, Healing Moments, focuses on the beauty of the natural landscape in the occupied West Bank.
"It is a reprieve from the oppressive sound of drones, the watchful eyes of towers, and restrictions in movement. It is the place where one can reflect on the sacred bond between Indigenous Palestinian communities and their traditional lands," it reads.
This exhibition also features programming, including a film screening, artist workshops, and curatorial discussion. On April 2, Where Olive Trees Weep at Rivercity Players will be screened along with other short films and a discussion.
There will also be a Tatreez, which a traditional form of Palestinian embroidery, workshop hosted by artist Rawan Hassan on April 26 and 27. Exhibition curator Stefan St. Laurant will be coming from Ottawa to host a curatorial talk about the exhibition and working with Nazzal. All programs are barrier-free and by donation.
Driving in Palestine will run from March 20 to May 24 in the art gallery's main and satellite gallery. This exhibition is a touring show from SAW Centre in Ottawa and is touring to B.C. for the first time.
